Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku?

 Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku? (タクに優しいギャルはいない！？) is a 12 episode romantic comedy based on the manga of the same name by Norishro-chan.  The series originally aired during the Spring of 2026.

    Seo Takuya is a reclusive nerd who just goes through his life trying not to be bothered by the world around him he struggles to be a part of.  That world is cracked open in a chance incident when a flashy girl in his class, Ijichi Kotoko, borrows an eraser from his desk.  Shocked by the sudden interaction he tries to convince her not to use the eraser.  It is a limited release item associated with his favorite anime, Glittery Monpets, the incident reveals that Ijichi's similarly flashy friend, Amane Kei, has some deeper understanding of the franchise as well.  Seeing a kindred fan, Seo struggles to contain his enthusiasm and begins to talk with Amane about the series aimed at young girls.  Amane, secretly an otaku, barely contains her enthusiasm but recognizes kinship in the quiet boy.

    As time goes on Seo and Amane begin to spend time together,  sparked by a shared fandom, with Ijichi tagging along out of interest.  An unlikely friendship blossoms between the two gyaru and the shy otaku, in a way that seems confusing on the outside.  Instead the two girls lack the desire to be judgemental and as Amane becomes more comfortable in her passion, admits she enjoys the same thing Seo does.  As they spend more time together, the two girls grow more fond of the awkward but well meaning nerd and begin to wonder which of them he would chose to be a romantic partner.  Seo on the other hand is just enjoying a change in his life were he can connect and spend time with peers, cherishing the unusual moments he can now participate in as a high school student.

    During the 2026 Spring season we had 2 titles that told a very similar story about a well meaning loaner becoming friends with the two most popular girls in his class.  A wish fulfillment trope. The other series was I Made Friends With the Second Prettiest Girl in Class.  In both, the hapless protagonist finds himself in his enviable position through no effort of his own.  What starts as innocent curiosity turns into admiration and trust once the beauties recognize the nerd for his good qualities and generally agreeable personality.  In reality a far cry from reality.  Too often said outcasts are bitter and arrogant and the popular girls typically will swing wide due to a variety of reasons, many of them being unconsciously accurate.  Seo is largely devoid of personality, making a good vessel for self insertion by the viewer.  Amane and Ijichi are largely unrealistically genuine and honest.

    Unlike Second Prettiest, Ota-Gal stay pretty firmly in fun time fantasy land and doesn't really give us a lot of character growth.  Frustratingly for some, it doesn't even end with Seo choosing one of the girls over the other and the story ends with a future filled with little hope for any new developments.  I enjoyed this one more than Second Prettiest for the first half, enjoying the carefree fun that was on display.  Second Prettiest at times felt bogged down by trying to inject drama that I felt was unnecessary.  As that story progressed the drama did make sense and was wrapped up into decent character growth.  Where as Ota-Gal failed to move beyond anything the first episode presented in any meaningful way and continued to spin the same story relentlessly.

The series was simulcast on Crunchyroll.